The Delaware County Weekly

Bringing Delco news and information directly to our residents!

—— November 17, 2023 (95th edition) ——

Delaware County Council, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, and County Controller Joanne Philips were proud to join various local elected officials and hundreds of residents to honor the County’s heroes during the annual Veterans Day Parade on November 10 in Media.

The annual parade, hosted by Media Borough included dozens Military and Veterans organizations, schools, marching bands, and members of the first responder community. Delaware County’s Military and Veterans Affairs Director Colonel Arthur Jenkins proudly served as the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade.

Despite the rain and wind, hundreds of residents lined State Street to celebrate and honor the County’s heroes.

It was a privilege to join the community to proudly honor those who honored our country with the highest form of service- serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. We owe you our immense gratitude. We owe you thanks that a simple “thank you” doesn’t adequately convey. And we owe you our respect — on Veterans Day and EVERY day.

Delaware County Council was proud to honor the recipients of the 2023 Freedom Medal Awards during the 9th annual Freedom Medal Awards Dinner held at the Springfield County Club on November 16.

The Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association hosts the annual dinner to pay tribute to the County’s selfless and heroic Veterans and to raise funds to support its educational programs that ensures future generations know about our nation’s military history and sacrifice.

Delaware County is home to over 35,000 Veterans who have bravely served our nation. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Veterans Memorial Association, Delaware County residents have a meaningful space at the Veterans Memorial and POW Wall in Newtown Square to reflect upon the bravery and sacrifice of local Veterans and honor those who have served to defend our rights and protect our freedom.

Council was once again proud to partner with the Veterans Memorial Association to host the annual awards ceremony, and Councilman Madden was honored to join the County’s Director of Military and Veterans Affairs, Colonel Arthur Jenkins to present the awards and a County Resolution and a State Proclamation to the recipients.

The 2023 Freedom Medal Award winners are:

Dedication to our Country Award

• Col. John Church Jr., United States Marine Corps
• Col. Anthony DeLuca, United States Army
• Tina Crowding, United States Navy
• Mary Donahue, United States Marine Corps
• Richard James O’Brien, United States Army
• Mark Aaron Robinson, United States Marine Corps

President's Award

• Martin Holahan

Dedication to Our Country & Community Award

• Comcast

Congratulations to the recipients on their much-deserved recognition!

Council thanks and commends President of the Association Joe Daly, for his leadership throughout the year, Nicole de Botton, who ensures the event is successful each year, and Claude de Botton, whose vision, dedication, patriotism, and tremendous respect for Delaware County’s heroes has led to the truly extraordinary Veterans Memorial and POW Wall in Newtown Square.

More details on the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association In Newtown Square can be found on their website at https://delcoveteransmemorial.org.

The 2023 Freedom Medal Award winners

The Delaware County Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Delaware County Council, the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority, and the Delaware County Bureau of Elections is holding its two-day Election Campaign Sign Recycling Drop-Off at the Leedom House at Rose Tree Park in Media.

The second of the two drop-off days is Saturday, November 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Delaware County residents, candidates and committees are encouraged to collect their yard signs and signs from public areas and participate in the free recycling event that will eliminate tons of recyclable materials from entering the waste stream. 

During the last two election cycles, Delaware County has diverted over 3,000 pounds of plastic and an additional 3,000 pounds of metal from the waste stream. 

“The recycling of election signs is one way for our residents to divert waste from landfills—saving taxpayers’ dollars and protecting the environment,” said Delaware County Office of Sustainability Director Francine Locke. “There is no “away” when we throw something in the trash—it must go somewhere, so recycling the plastic, metal, and cardboard from these signs is one way to go green and Sustain Delco.”

All campaign signs (plastic-coated, cardboard, and vinyl signs) and accompanying metal stands will be accepted free-of-charge, and all collected materials will be recycled. Please note that signs do NOT need to be dismantled for collection. 

Recycling Drop-Off Details

Saturday, November 18: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rose Tree Park (Leedom House)

Enter the park’s main entrance on Providence Road and veer left

1671 N. Providence Road

Media, PA 19063 | Map

We hope to see you there!

Day 1 gets off to a great start: Thank you Nether Providence Township!

Fifteen minutes into day 1: Some signs were five years old!

Thank you to Delaware County staff, volunteers, and residents!

Delaware County Council joined numerous local elected officials and nearly 100 Delaware County residents at an open house hosted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to discuss the Army Corps’ tentative proposal to build a 1,400-foot levee. The proposed level would be built along the Cobbs Creek, located at the confluence of Cobbs Creek and the Darby Creek, to control flooding in the Eastwick section of Philadelphia.

The open house was held at Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill on November 9, with presentations made by the Army Corps, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. A public Q&A session followed.

During the three-hour open house, residents learned that the Army Corps had finalized a draft report that included a “Tentatively Selected Plan” calling for a 1,400 foot earthen levee that would prevent an estimated average of over $4 million in flood damage to infrastructure — including homes, roads, and power lines per year, each year from 2030 to 2080 — but could cause additional flooding for hundreds of structures near the Cobbs and Darby creeks in Delaware County during significant storms.

The Potential Impacts to Delaware County

Although the proposed levee has clear benefits to Eastwick, Delaware County could face additional flooding for as many as 328 structures near the Cobbs Creek and Darby Creek in Delaware County during significant storms. The potential negative impacts to Delaware County include:

• Increased flood waters
• Potential increase in flood water velocity 
• Potential environmental impacts including the disruption of wildlife habitat and soil erosion 
• Potential downstream sedimentation

Public Feedback

Residents and local officials participated in a nearly two-hour Q&A session following the presentations, asking tough questions, and providing strong feedback regarding the Army Corps’ proposal. 

Concerns voiced by attendees included the potential increased flooding of low-lying properties, the disturbance of contaminated soils and previously remediated toxic sites, the possible contamination of water tables, the possible need for residents to obtain flood insurance (or the possible increases in existing flood insurance premiums), to skepticism regarding Army Corps assurances due in part to past levee failures such as those that occurred during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. 

Army Corps representatives and presenters from various agencies listened to residents who chose to speak and assured attendees that no final decisions had been made and that the Tentatively Selected Plan would continue to be assessed and potentially revised well after the stated November 30 deadline for public comment. 

Timing of the Eastwick Levee Open House

The Eastwick project had been initiated by the City of Philadelphia over four years ago to address repeatedly flooding in the Eastwick section of the city. 

At the direction of County Council, the Delaware County Planning Department requested the Army Corps host an open house to provide a formal forum for the County and affected Delaware County residents to gather information and provide feedback regarding the $13M project.

Public Feedback Sought: November 30 Deadline

The Army Corps’ study is ongoing, and the final plan may be change due to public feedback and the resulting exploration of alternative solutions to flooding in Eastwick. The public is encouraged to provide feedback, which will help Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Planning Department develop a response to the levee proposal and potential future work to address flooding in the county. 

Those who could not attend the November 9 open house can still submit comments by mail or online AND submit a survey through November 30.

• Submit comments by email: PDPA-NAP@usace.army.mil
• Submit comments by mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
• Take the survey: Survey available at DelcoPA.Gov/EastwickLeveeSurvey

Council and the Delaware County Planning Department will be submitting comments articulating their many concerns. Council and the Planning Department are following this closely to ensure that Delaware County residents are not negatively affected by whatever plan is eventually put in place.

While the deadline to submit feedback was set by the Army Corps for November 30, 2023, Delaware County has submitted a formal request to extend the deadline for public comment and will inform the public in the event that the Army Corps agrees to an extension.

Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor visited Delaware County Controller Joanne Phillips and her team this week as part of the Auditor General’s statewide tour of county controllers’ offices designed to share ideas, discuss best practices, and learn how the State and County might better work together in their shared mission to ensure Pennsylvania tax dollars are spent properly.

“The Delaware County Controller’s Office shares Auditor General DeFoor’s mission to strengthen the auditing process through modernization efforts and the adoption of best practices,” said Controller Phillips. “We appreciate his understanding of the work my staff in the Controller’s Office does on a daily basis and his interest in helping controllers’ offices state-wide perform at a high level.”

The Delaware County Controller’s Office, under the direction of Controller Phillips, is responsible for the oversight and processing of thousands of transactions each month and works closely with all County departments on retirement administration, payroll, accounts payable, and accounting. Improving workflows and adopting best practices that align with Auditor General’s Office will help provide immediate benefits to Delaware County residents through quicker, more accurate, and more transparent transactions.

Auditor General DeFoor expressed appreciation for the Delaware County Controller’s Office’s efforts. “My office is focused on serving as the fiscal watchdog for all Pennsylvanians — that starts with the important relationships at the local level, like the one we have with Delaware County,” said Auditor General DeFoor. “Every county controller has the same goal, so by working together we can protect and educate Pennsylvania residents.”

Controller Joanne Phillips giving Auditor General DeFoor and his staff a short tour of the office

During the visit, Controller Phillips and her team sat down with Auditor General DeFoor and Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor and provided an update of Delaware County’s recent initiatives, highlighted by the creation of a Delaware County internal audit team charged with examining County expenditures to ensure taxpayer money is being spent efficiently and appropriately.

Both Auditor General DeFoor and Controller Phillips found common ground in a proactive approach to professional development within their respective offices and their shared efforts to foster disciplined, high-performing staffs. Auditor General DeFoor noted his office had initiated an Intern to Hire program, allowing college students to gain auditing experience at the state-level with a path to full-time employment in the department.

“County Council is supportive of the Auditor General’s work to transform his office and appreciative of the opportunity provided to Controller Phillips and her team to discuss topics that will help strengthen both offices,” said Council Chair Taylor. “The visit by the Auditor General was a welcome boost to staff and furthers the understanding of the critical role the Controller’s office plays in County government.”

What’s Next for the County Controller’s Office

High priority work includes the evaluation of new technology needed to replace legacy financial software necessary to meet the financial needs of the County, work on the annual financial reporting and Countywide audit, and work necessary to support new programs initiated by County Council.

PA Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor, Delaware County Controller Joanne Phillips, and the staff of the County Controller's Office

Ambassadors to receive $1,000 for critical community engagement efforts 

The Delaware County Planning Department continues its efforts to implement Vision Zero Delco: Drive Safe, Roll Safe, Walk Safe through public education and engagement efforts. These efforts are now focused on the launch of a Vision Zero Safety Ambassador Pilot Program which calls upon Delaware County residents — as many as 15 residents with an interest in addressing issues of traffic safety involving our roadways — to work with their community to brainstorm ideas, provide insights, and develop proactive solutions regarding traffic safety in Delaware County.

Interested? We want to hear from you! The ideal Safety Ambassador is someone who:

• Cares about traffic safety 
• Wants to make Delaware County a safer place for walking, rolling, biking, taking transit, and driving.
• Is invested in the community (someone who lives or works in Delaware County)

What Does a Safety Ambassador Do?

Safety Ambassadors will help us make our roads safer for everyone, and will interact with friends, neighbors, and members of their community by conducting engagement activities in their community between November 2023 and April 2024. These activities may include:

• Hosting neighborhood meetings
• Setting up a table at a local community event
• Having a coffee chat with residents after worship services 
• Creating social media content to help spread the word
• Collecting stories about how safe people feel on Delco roads

Each Ambassador will receive a stipend of at least $1,000 as they play a crucial role in the public engagement process. Safety Ambassadors are expected to commit approximately 55 hours for engagement activities and training in total.

Training Will be Provided

Ambassadors will receive specific engagement and canvassing training so they can gather feedback from people walking, rolling, or taking public transportation along high injury corridors and intersections. The purpose of this program is to make sure residents who might not otherwise participate are engaged and heard in the planning process. 

Interested? How to Become a Delaware County Safety Ambassador

Residents interested in learning more about the Safety Ambassador program and how to participate can complete a brief survey (takes about 10 minutes to complete). Over the next few weeks, Delaware County will contact selected residents and discuss participation and training.

Want more Information?

The Vision Zero initiative is a global transportation strategy adopted by over 40 U.S. cities that promotes safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all residents and aims for the elimination of traffic fatalities and severe injuries. For more information, check out the Vision Zero Action Plan for Delaware County website at delcopa.gov/VisionZeroDelco. 

Delaware County is seeking board members for several County boards, to fill immediate and upcoming vacancies. Delaware County Council encourages interested residents who can contribute their time, energy, and passion to serve as board members and provide their experience and ideas.

Board members provide valuable insight and feedback to Council and County departments and help to improve the overall function and success of the County. Delaware County boards with openings include:

• Community Transit of Delaware County 
• Delaware County Authority
• Delaware County Industrial Development Authority
• Delaware County Interactive Gaming Authority
• Delaware County Planning Commission
• Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority 
• Delaware County Solid Waste Authority

Interested Delaware County residents are encouraged to complete the online application. Applicants must provide their name, address, contact information, current employer/occupation, a brief explanation as to why they are interested in serving on a particular board, and attach an up-to-date resume.

Details about board openings, and the online application, can be found at DelcoPA.Gov/Board-Vacancies.

Applications for ALL Boards listed above will be accepted through Friday, December 8, at 4:30 p.m. Applicants MUST be residents of Delaware County.

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